Photographic timing device



April 6,1943. w. P. MOOREFIELD PHOTOGRAPHIC .TIMING DEVICE OriginalFiledNov. 15, 1955 /lo lion's nc an ac v Patented Apr. 6, 1943 PHOTOGRAPHIGTIMING DEVICE William P. Moorefield, St. Petersburg, Fla, as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Automatic Electrical Devices, inc...St. Petersburg, Fla., a

corporation Original application November 15, mason! No. 50,051. Dividedand this application December 20, 1940, Serial No. 311,037

8 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic timing devices and particularlyto a photographic timing device electrically operated which willaccurately time and photograph the finish of a race.

This application constitutes a. division of my.

copending application Serial No. 50,051 filed November 15, 1935, renewedDecember 2, 1939, and issued September 9, 19%1, as Patent No. 2,255,266.

in prior automatic timing installations using a photoelectric cell and aprojected beam for starting and stopping race timing devices, noprovisions have been made for preventing accidental operation oi thesystem, for permittin operation in races wher the participants must runmore than one lap or for other desirable features forming a part of thisinvention.

in accordance with this invention a photographic timing device isprovided that utilizes a group of photoelectric or other beam sensitivemembers, each member acted upon by a. projected light beam or analgoushigh frequency beam. This group will operate an associated .relay onlywhen a predetermined number of these cells and beams have beeninterrupted. One group of cells and beam projectors are located at thestarting point of the race and when these cells ar interrupted by thebody of one or more ill of the participants a timing mechanism is set inoperation in the judges stand.

At the finish line is located another similar group of cells and beamprojectors. Associated with this second group are devices which willautomatically and/or manually prevent the operation of their associatedtiming mechanism until the actual finish of the race is at hand. Forexample assuming the device embodying this invention should be in use ata mile track for judging a mile and one-half horse race. When the horsesbreak from the barrier or their stalls as the case may be, at the startof a race the group of cells at the starting line will be interruptedand by means of an electric circuit and suitable relays will set atiming mechanism'in operation in the judges stand. At the same time acontact may be opened in clock mechanism that will prevent operation ofthe'judging mechanism until a period of forty-five seconds or otherpredetermined length of time has elapsed. This device will enable theparticipants to pass the judge's stand the first time without stoppingthe judging mechanism.

Mechanism is also associated with the device illustrative of thisinvention that will permit a judge to take care of a contingency such asfor quently running away and crossing the nominal finishing line afterthe predetermined automatic time set has elapsed. By merely pushing abutton and opening a circuit as the horse is coming down the track, thejudge can prevent operation of the photo timing device as this run awayhorse crosses the nominal finishing line.

The circuit governing the photo timing device is provided with tworelays, one of which opens the clock starting circuit when the impulsestarting the timing mechanism is received, and the other or which opensthe finish line circuit when the impulse governing the photo timingoperation at the end of the race is received. By virtue of these tworelays the photo timing starting and stopping devices each receive asingle impulse only, so that the timing is recorded from the time whenthe first participant at the start crosses the starting line and whenthe first participantat the end of the race-crosses the finish line.This relay arrangement prevents subsequent operation or chattering ofthe photo timing device due to an uneven start or finish and the relaysmust be set from the judge's stand or some other convenient place beforethe device will operate at all. This setting may be accomplished bymeans of a push button which closes a presetting circuit.

. Objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in thisparticular art from the claims and description in the specificationtaken in connection with the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram illustrative of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic showing of high frequency beam projectors andtheir associated beam sensitive cells.

In the embodiment of the invention which has been chosen for the purposeof illustration and referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawing, at It) isshown a starting line of a race track. At this,

point a plurality of beam projectors l I and beam sensitive cells l2 aredisposed on opposite sides of the track. These cells and theirarrangement are diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2. Power for the beamprojectors and the light sensitive cell is derived from a power line It!which may be an A. C. or D. C. power source.

For purposes ofillustration and description this line is indicated ashaving a positive side It and a negative side IS. The light sensitivecells are connected in a vacuum tube amplifying circuit characterized bya pair of balanced resistances I6 and I1 which determine the amount ofcurrent flowing through a filament and a high resistance element Itconnected in the circuit from one side of the power line to the lightsensitive cells I2. The plate circuit of the amplifying circuit includesa coil 20 of a relay. When power is impressed'upon the circuit,sufficient current flows through the coil 20 to attract armature 2|,away from a contact 22, and hold its associated circuit in openposition, A spring 23 tends to pull the armature 2| against the contact22 and hold it in closed position.

With this circuit properly connected because of the values of theresistances I and I1 and the mechanical strength of the-spring 23, thecurrent flowing through the coil is such that it requires aninterruption of a plurality of the beam members to so reduce thestrength of current flowing through the coil 20 that the spring 23 willattract the armature 2| and close it to contact. This feature of designforms a part of the invention and it prevents to a large extentunintentional operation of the photo timing device. For example, shouldit be necessary for six out of twelve of the beams to be interruptedbefore the contact 22 is closed, it would obviously require a body ofconsiderable size to break a suflicient number of beams and set thedevice in operation. This feature will prevent operation of the deviceif a bird flies across the starting line or if a piece of paper or someother object should be blown across the beam path.

To put this device in operation to judge a race, a switch 25 is closedin the power line I3 and power is supplied to the beam projecting andbeam sensitive members at the starting line In and their associatedamplifying circuit and also to similar beam projecting and beamsensitive devices located at the flnish line III. This finish lineactuating device has a similar amplifying circuit forming a relaycontrol similar to that located at the starting point and its specificfunction and features will be described in connection with itsoperation.

When power has been applied to the tubes of the amplifying circuits atthe start and finish line for a sufflcient length of time for them towarm up, current flowing through their plate circuits and the coils 20and 20' will be of sufficient strength to attract armatures 2I and 2|and open contacts 22, 22'. When the armature 2| is attracted and itscircuit open this circuit is closed through a pilot light 21 which maybe located in the judges stand and this will inform the judge that thecircuit is ready to be set for operation.

To set the circuit of the race judging device ready for operation abutton switch is closed. This switch permits current to flow from theline I4 through line 29 to switch 30, line 3|, coil 32, line 33, line34, lead 35, switch 31, to be described in detail later, lead 38, buttonswitch 39 and line 40 to the opposite side I5 of the line I3. Thiscurrent flowing through the coil 32 attracts an armature H and closes acontact 42. At the same time this operation is going on, current flowsfrom line 3| through a branch 3 I and leads current through a secondrelay coil 32' and back to line 34 from where it traverses lead 35,switch 31, lead 38, switch 39, line 40 back to opposite side I 5 ofpower line I3. Current flowing through the coil 32' attracts armature 4|and closes the contact 42' in the manner previously described inconnection with armatures 4|. With the armatures 4I, 4| in closed or setposition the photoelectric timing device is ready to operate.

Assuming now the start of a race to be judged. The participants crossthe starting line I0, breaking beam circuit II and I2 which causes adiminution in the current flowing through the coil 20 and permittingcontact 2|, 22 to close under the action of the spring 23. Upon closureof this circuit, current flows from the line I4 through line 25, line43, armature 4|, contact 42, line 44, contacts 2|, 22, line 45, coil 45,line 41, line 43, lead 35, switch 31, lead 35, switch 38, line 40 backto side I5 of power line I3. -The current flowing through the coil 45starts the timing mechanism in a clock 50. The clock 50 may be of anydesired type operating on the stop-watch principle. For the purposes ofillustration, it is shown as of the mechanical spring wound type havinga brake disc 45a connecting with a chain of clock gears 46b. The coil 45constitutes a solenoid adapted to attract an armature brake 45c. Whenthe coil 45 is energized, the brake is retracted clear of the disc 45a,permitting the clock to start.

At the same time current is flowing through the coil 45, a branch lead5| connected with the line 45 carries current through a coil 52, line 53connected to the line 33 from where it flows to the side I5 of the powerline I3 through line 34, lead 35, switch 31, lead 38, switch 39, line40. The current flowing through the coil 52 attracts armature H andpulls it oil. contact 42 to open or unset position. In connection withthis operation it is to be noted that the contact 42 is of considerablelength so that notwithstanding the fact that it opens the circuitpermitting current to flow through the time starting mechanism coil 45,it

. will stay closed a suflicient length of time so that the same electricimpulse that opened this contact will have sufflcient time to start thetiming mechanism.

Referring now particularly to the switch 31 this switch is engaged by aselected one of a group of earn 55 and is normally maintained in closedposition by the cam. The cams 55 are so shaped. however, that when thetiming mechanism is started, the switch 31 is allowed to spring open dueto the action of spring 31a. The design of the cams is such that thisswitch is allowed to remain open for a predetermined period of time suchas for example, fifteen, thirty or forty-five seconds. After the lapseof the predetermined time, determined by the design of the cam whichengages the switch, the cam will move the switch 31 to closed position.By virtue of this construction the photo timing device illustrative ofthis invention may be readily used on a mile track for judging a mileand a sixteenth, a mile and a quarter or any other race wherein it isnecessary for the participants to cross the nominal finish line morethan once.

To continue the description in connection with the mile and a sixteenthrace assuming that the switch 31 is engaged by a cam permitting it toremain open for thirty seconds following the actuation of the timingmechanism. The participants of the race have crossed the starting lineI0, the timing mechanism has been started and the switch 31 has beenautomatically opened. The participants will cross the finish line IIIand notwithstanding the fact that the armature 2| will close and remainclosed until all of the participants have passed the finish line, thejudging mechanism will not be affected due to the fact that when switch31 is open no current will flow through the Judging mechanism. After thelapse of the selected thirty second time interval and after all of theparticipants have crossed the nominal finish line ill, the switch 31will be closed by means of the selected cam 55.

When the participants next cross the finish line l marking the end ofthe race, the breaking of the beam circuit .II', [2, will cause adiminution in current through the coil 20', closing the contacts 2|, 22and current will flow from side Id of the line l3 through line 43,branch 43', armature 4!, lead 44', armature 2|, contact 22', line 45,relay 60, lead if to line 34 from where it goes through lead 35, switch31, lead 38, switch 39, line 40, to side 15 of power line l3.

Current flowing through the coil 60 actuates the camera 65 and takes aphotograph of the finish of the race. At the same time current from theline 45 traverses a line 6! and goes through a coil 10 in the timingmechanism 50. From there it goes to the line 48, lead 35, switch 31,lead 38, switch 39, to line All joining side 85 to power line l3.Current flowing through solenoid I0 attracts armature brake 46c andcauses the latter to engage the brake disc 46a, to thereby stop thetiming mechanism and accurately time the race.

At the same time the race judging circuits are closed through coils 60and i6 and photographing and timing the race, a branch connected withline 45' carries current to a coil 52', lead 53, lead 33' to line 34 andthence through lead 35, switch 31, lead 38, switch 39, line dd back toside I5 of power line l3. The current flowing through the coil 52'attracts the armature 5i and pulls it off contact 42' The contact 32 hasthe same general dimensions as the contact 62 so that notwithstandingthe fact that a single impulse opens this contact which in turn opens acontact in the circuit of the finish line judging mechanism, the contactM, 42' will not be opened until the impulses traversing coils 6i) and'illhave had time to actuate the camera 65 and the stopping mechanismrespectively.

- The switch 39, located between lines 38 and id in a common return toside it of power line it,

is normally located in the judges stand and will take care of anycontingencies such as for example a horse baliring and being left at thepost and subsequently running away and crossing the finish line afterthe predetermined time governing time switch 31, has elapsed. Shouldthis contingency arise the judge has merely to press the button 39 andopen the circuit between lines 218 and 40 as the horse crosses thefinish line and the judging mechanism will not operate but will be readyto operate as soon as this switch 39 is allowed to close. Similarly aswitch 80 is provided between lines 34 and 38 which may be operatedmanually to take the place of the automatic time switch N. If it isdesired to use the switch 80 instead of the automatic switch 3i it isonly necessary to remove the switch 37 from contact with any cam so thatit will remain open.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in this device without departing from the spirit of theinvention and therefore is not limited to what is shown in the drawingand described in the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for judging races run on a track including a beamprojecting device arranged to project a beam transversely across thetrack, a photo-electric cell or beam-sensitive receiver disposed on theside of the track opposite said beam projecting device and positioned toreceive said beam, a camera adapted to be focused on the line ofprojection of said beam, electrical means for plurality of beams insubstantial vertical align-- ment across the track, a plurality ofphoto-elec- 'tri c cells positioned at the opposite side of the track toreceive the beams from said projectors, photographing apparatusincluding a camera, electrical means for operating the camera, and

an electric circuit electrically connecting said photo-electric cellswith the camera operating device, sald circuit being balanced in amanner such as to cause the camera operating means to be energized onlyupon interruption of a plurality or a predetermined number of saidbeams.

3. In a device for judging races, 2, light beam projectingmeansincluding a plurality of substantially vertically aligned beamprojecting ele-' ments, coacting beam receiving means including aplurality of substantially vertically aligned beam sensitive elements,and an associated cir cult including a relay actuated by interruption ofa predetermined number of the beams pro-= jected from said projectingelements.

l. Apparatus for iudging'races at a race track including a plurality oflight beam projectors at one side of the track positioned to project aplurality of beams in substantial vertical alignment across the track, aplurality of similarly aligned photoelectric cells positioned at theopposite side of the track to receive the beams from said projectors, anassociated circuit including a relay actuated through interruption ofsaid beams, and means interposed in said circuit and associated withsaid relay for preventing actuation thereof until a predetermined numberof beams are interrupted.

5. Apparatus for judging races comprising an electric circuit, a beamprojecting element arranged to project a beam transversely across thetrack at the starting line of the race and another beam projectingelement arranged to project a beam transversely across the track at thefinish of the race, coacting beam sensitive receivers disposed on theside of the track opposite said projecting devices to receive the beamstherefrom, timing mechanism operatively connected into the circuit andmeans for causing said timing mechanism to start operating uponinterruption of the beam at the starting line, a camera adapted to befocused on the finish line, and means in said circuit operativelyconnected to said timing mechanism and to said camera and responsive tointerruption of the beam at the finish line for stopping said timingmechanism and actuating the camera.

6. Apparatus for judging races at a race track including a plurality oflight beam projectors at one side of the track positioned to project aplurality of beams'in substantially vertical alignment across the track,a plurality of similar aligned photoelectric cells positioned at theopposite side of the track to receive the beams from said projectors, anassociated circuit including a relay adapted to be actuated throughinterruption of said beams, said circuit including amplifying means andadjustable resistors coacting with said relay in a manner such that therelay will remain inoperative until a predetermined number of beams areinterrupted.

7. In apparatus for judging races, a light beam projector including aplurality of beam projecting elements arranged to project a plurality ofbeams along a predetermined finish line or a race course with said beamsin eflect constituting the finish line, a beam sensitive receiverincluding a pinrality of beam sensitive elements arranged to receive thebeams from said projecting elements, and an associated electricalcircuit including amplifying means and a relay interconnected andbalanced in a manner such that the relay will operate only uponinterruption of a plurality of said beams.

8. In apparatus for judging races. a light beam projector including aplurality of substantially vertically aligned beam projecting elementsarranged to project a plurality of vertically aligned beams along apredeterminediinish line 01' a race course with said beams in electconstituting the

